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Dear Docents,

This is the last time I will address you as president of Docent Council. Elections were held on Saturday, November 12, and I congratulate everyone who was elected to Docent Council.
The elected members will find out what I have known for the past years, both as president and as an elected representative – it is an honor to serve the docent body. I wrote last month about the unique status of a self-governing unit that is the docent body. I would re-iterate again how both unusual it is and how well it functions.

Over my past three years as president, the functioning of that docent body has changed. When I was first elected, we were just beginning to revamp our educational curriculum through what we called Docent Program Redesign (DPR). That meant that the past two classes have not just learned the Historic and Modern tours and then been sent onto the streets. Instead, they have been presented an in-depth architectural fundamentals class and then learned a variety of tours ranging from Treasures and the newly renamed Masterworks (formerly Old and New) to Evolution of the Skyscraper to Discover Chicago’s Historic Neighborhoods, the Big Bus open air bus tour. We have worked through many issues of DPR. And we have now initiated DPR2, which is addressing some additional concerns, such as scheduling for the benefit of tourees’ interests AND  docents’ preferred schedules, leading to reductions of the number of tours on the schedule at some specific times.

In the past three years, too, I have seen the Marketing Committee evolve from a task force to a potent full-blown committee working closely with staff for a far more significant punch in the marketplace for our tours. I have watched the Education Committee finely tune and add depth to the curriculum for many tours, the Tour Committee continue to supervise the investment we all have in new tours and upgrading of existing tours to offer the finest menu of tours in the city. The Communications Committee has launched The Bridge our new docent and VEV website. And each and every program that the Enrichment Committee presents is a learning experience – or a hell of a lot of fun like all of our trips to far-flung cities.

We all have been rewarded with TripAdvisor awards and the naming of CAF as the place to find the best tours in town, both the River Cruise and in general walking tours. But, looking from CAF inside to the outside, we also have seen the rise of continuing competition, both in an ever-increasing number of tour companies and in terms of electronic innovation (see Jen Masengarb’s newest effort, a narrative for use on smartphone app), and others that we are still investigating.

In short, it has been an exciting three years for me and I hope also for CAF and docents. I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting and working with so many docents on so many fronts – those who volunteer for various committees, those who attend the fabulous continuing education programs we present to and for ourselves, those with whom I share the fun of giving various tours. Whether you give ten tours a year or more – and some of us give up to or close to 100+ tours a year – docents are driven by one purpose: providing education to our tourees about why design matters. It drives us, all of us, whether you are here all year round, are snowbirds and only here in spring and summer, whether we walk our hearts out or ride the boat sharing our information.

I always think “where else?” when I learn about how the river docents are rewriting the manual again for 2017 and not one, not two, or even just three docents have eagerly signed on to help; that the Tour Committee needs volunteers to review tours and everyone signs on with some people complaining that there are no more slots to fill, or when those on vacation, even out of the country, still email from places afar so things go smoothly here in Chicago. Where else, indeed, could you find volunteers who are so eager to participate, who care so much about what they do, who labor so hard that the organization works like a well-oiled clock (sorry for the cliche but it fits).

Now, as we look forward, we are faced with exciting projects – a possible new architecture center, and all the changes between now and when we move in there; as always, a new class coming in to join our ranks beginning in January, as well as all the changes in life whether good or bad coming from November’s election.

It has been my pleasure to serve all of you and I’m sure the next president – whomever he or she may be – will be looking forward to working with you as well. Docents, you are a unique group, a fabulous group, and any one would be proud to represent you. I know I am and I wish us all continued success as we move forward

Remember, as we traverse the city, neighborhoods and suburban areas, we’re here to help people discover why design matters. Enjoy,

Ellen